So over 80 years the Woodwind Instruments have taken up under 10% of the programming wheras the Strings have 33.42%, Vocal 25.84% and Keyboard 23.75%.  With this kind of representation is there any wonder that there are so few professional woodwind ensembles. 

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The Lonarc Foundation has been set up to try and reverse this trend. The total scores  for woodwind chamber music from the late 18th century  more than equal the total number of scores for string instruments. The Octet being the most popular ensemble. 

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In the late 18th century there was no such discrimination against chamber music for woodwind instruments. 

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Even if the trajectory for most woodwind students is to play in an orchestra, surely providing ample opportunity for woodwind chamber music performance should be encouraged. 

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I hope these statistics will give chamber music festival programmers pause for thought - maybe the reason they think that only string, vocal or keyboard music is the only chamber music genre to sell tickets - is because thats is all their audiences know. 

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Double Reed Woodwind Chamber Music could also become popular again - if given the chance to perform.